Opening: Gremlin Theatre puts Ivey recipients Stacia Rice and Peter Christian Hansen onstage in this two-hander by playwright Gardner McKay. Rice and Hansen played opposite each other in Torch's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and Gremlin's "Fool for Love." Here, they play simple folk from the British Isles who fall in love. Ellen Fenster, who staged Gremlin's excellent "Burn This," directs. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 4 p.m. Sun. Ends May 13, Gremlin, 2400 W. University Av., St. Paul, $20 -- or half your age under 30. 1-888-71-842-5387 or www.gremlin-theatre.org.)

THE MILL

Opening:Workhaus Playwrights Collective presents this new work by Jeannine Coulombe, who grew up with relatives who worked in the paper mills of International Falls, Minn. The play is based on a union riot in 1989 and focuses on unions and immigration. Matt Sciple directs a cast that includes Terry Hempleman, Jodi Kellogg, Amy McDonald and Eric Webster. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Ends May 5, Playwrights' Center, 2301 E. Franklin Av., Mpls., $18, 1-800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com.)

JULIUS CAESAR

Opening: You've heard of all-male casts doing Shakespeare according to original practices. Theatre Unbound turns that idea on its head with an all-female production. They will be costumed in traditional Roman garb, which adds a layer of intrigue. "There is something tantalizing about women playing men wearing historically masculine but modern feminine clothing," said director Carin Bratlie. Noë Tallen plays Brutus and Kirby Bennett is Caesar. Katherine Kupiecki plays Mark Antony. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Wed.-Thu. 2 p.m. Sun. Ends May 6; Lowry Lab Theater, 350 St. Peter St., St. Paul; $15-$25, 612-721-1186 or www.theatreunbound.com.)

DEAL! THE MUSICAL

Opening: This is a new work written and composed by Minnesotans Tom Broadbent and Jerry Seifert. The story revolves around poker games played by family farmers who are struggling to make a living in rural Minnesota. Jon and Laurie Hegge are featured as the central couple. Joshua James Campbell directs. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. and Tue.-Thu., 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sun. Ends May 6, Ritz Theater, 345 13th Av. NE., Mpls., $29, 612-436-1129 or www.dealthemusical.com.)